Scrooge's nephew, Fred

• Fred in A Christmas Carol

  • Cheerful
  • Generous
  • Kind-hearted
• Positive , Even when Scrooge puts down all his talk of Christmas festivities, Fred persists with his good cheer."I'll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So A Merry Christmas, uncle!"We learn about Fred's positive nature from his dialogue. Everything he says focuses on the positive aspects of Christmas.
• Persistent , Fred refuses to let Scrooge's miserly attitude dampen his sprits."I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him."He shows his care for his uncle by pledging to continue visiting Scrooge regardless. His concern is revealed by his persistence and pity.
• Enthusiastic , When Scrooge finally turns up for Christmas dinner, Fred welcomes him in."Let him in! It is a mercy he didn't shake his arm off."Fred's enthusiasm is evident in his hearty welcome, shaking his uncle's hand with force.
• Many of the Christmas traditions that we enjoy today began during the Victorian era. Before the 19th-century, Christmas was not celebrated in the way that it is today. It was not even considered a holiday by many businesses.
• The practice of sending Christmas cards began during the Victorian times, as did the giving of elaborate and increasingly luxurious gifts on Christmas Day.
• The Christmas feast has a longer history, though the popularity of turkey can be attributed to the Victorians. The focus on family and spending time with loved ones also came about in the 1800s.
• A Christmas Carol was written during this time and played its part in making these new traditions popular.
• Dickens uses the character of Bob Cratchit to show us what life was like for ordinary people living in London at the time. He works hard but still struggles to make ends meet.
• In A Christmas Carol, Dickens describes how Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, brings home “a great goose” for their Christmas meal. Goose was traditionally eaten at Christmas because geese could be fattened all winter long and so they would have been ready just in time for the festive season.
• Christmas became more commercialised during the Victorian period. This led to an increase in sales of decorations such as tinsel and holly, which were imported from Germany at the time.